Archive for the ‘Motorsport’ Category

Following a very intriguing preview, today Volkswagen revealed the 2018 VW Polo GTI R5 rally car in the flesh. As with the rest of the new generation of street model-based rally cars, the R5 Polo is a superb looking creature. The new WRC season is going to be a delight to watch just because of the cars.

In fact we probably would not care about the competition itself! But in any case, 2018 VW Polo GTI R5 is locked and loaded to win races, what with sophisticated chassis, suspension and aerodynamics, a 272 hp turbo engine, four-wheel drive and new safety package. The engine is, of course, is the same basic motor used in the road-going Polo GTI according to the new rules, and it has a capacity of 1.6 liters. TheR5 is a totally different beast though, weighing 1,320 kg and boasting close-stepped, sequential, five-speed racing gearbox and permanent four-wheel drive. The little racer rockets from 0 to 100 km/h in 4.1 seconds.

“The Polo GTI R5 came through the initial tests without any problems. The feedback from the test drivers was very positive,” says Technical Director François-Xavier “FX” Demaison. “It is obviously beneficial to be able to call upon an experienced team of engineers and mechanics, who helped to develop the Polo that won the world championship. And it goes without saying that, as we have in the past, we are also taking advantage of the close and excellent cooperation with the colleagues in the technical development department in Wolfsburg, as well as our Škoda colleagues, who have been offering their customers an R5 car since 2015.”

Following a very intriguing preview, today Volkswagen revealed the 2018 VW Polo GTI R5 rally car in the flesh. As with the rest of the new generation of street model-based rally cars, the R5 Polo is a superb looking creature. The new WRC season is going to be a delight to watch just because of the cars.

In fact we probably would not care about the competition itself! But in any case, 2018 VW Polo GTI R5 is locked and loaded to win races, what with sophisticated chassis, suspension and aerodynamics, a 272 hp turbo engine, four-wheel drive and new safety package. The engine is, of course, is the same basic motor used in the road-going Polo GTI according to the new rules, and it has a capacity of 1.6 liters. TheR5 is a totally different beast though, weighing 1,320 kg and boasting close-stepped, sequential, five-speed racing gearbox and permanent four-wheel drive. The little racer rockets from 0 to 100 km/h in 4.1 seconds.

“The Polo GTI R5 came through the initial tests without any problems. The feedback from the test drivers was very positive,” says Technical Director François-Xavier “FX” Demaison. “It is obviously beneficial to be able to call upon an experienced team of engineers and mechanics, who helped to develop the Polo that won the world championship. And it goes without saying that, as we have in the past, we are also taking advantage of the close and excellent cooperation with the colleagues in the technical development department in Wolfsburg, as well as our Škoda colleagues, who have been offering their customers an R5 car since 2015.”

Well, even in the world of racing looking matters these days, which is why Volkswagen have given their Golf GTI TCR race car a facelift for the 2018 season. There is more to this facelift, mind you, than just fashion and beauty. And no, it has nothing with aerodynamics and all that.

TCR race cars, you see, are based on the production models one can buy in the showroom. So they look fairly similar to the road-going version, and the closer they look to the production car, the better. That is the reason behind 2018 Golf GTI TCR facelift. The 350 horsepower racer gets a new face that is unmistakably GTI. The car maker hopes that the success of this car on the race track would lend this highly recognizable face a certain prestige, which in turn would translates into more sales for the production model. Other road car-related features include GTI-specific features like the typical red stripe in the radiator grille and the legendary ‘Clark’ plaid seat covers. The TCR Golf will be ready for delivery from January onwards.

“The new look for the Golf GTI TCR resulted from close cooperation with Volkswagen Design. This helps us to underline just what a close relationship exists between the production model and the racing version,” explains Volkswagen Motorsport Director Sven Smeets. “For example, the engine comes directly from series production and only requires minimal adjustment for competitive racing. This is proof that the Golf GTI provides the perfect foundation for our customer racing cars.”

After the debut of the new Vantage, Aston Martin went ahead and took the wraps off the racing version of the car while they were at it. The 2018 Aston Martin Racing Vantage GTE is as sharp and and aggressive as they come, but somehow one feels it is softer than the road-going version.

That’s probably because the road car looks so shocking. You expect the racing car to be all mean and nasty, but the road-going Vantage was always this nice and cuddly thing which has now gone fully Mad Max. At any rate, the new Aston Martin Racing Vantage GTE has undergone 13,000km of testing, including a successful 30-hour run at the Spanish circuit of Navarra, to replace the current V8 Vantage GTE. So it’d better be just as successful. The old one brought home 37 of the team’s 51 international race victories, including two Le Mans 24 Hour class wins.

2018 Aston Martin Racing Vantage GTE benefits from a collection of the industry’s best parts. The engine is a 4.0 liter AMG unit. You have Alcon for the braking system, Öhlins for the suspension and Michelin for a bespoke set of tires. These are all wrapped in that mean Aston body and covered with a cool AMR livery in the case of this show car. Customer cars will of course have their own different looks. There are new sponsors as well, including Waldorf Astoria hotels and Beats by Dr. Dre.

Aston Martin Racing Technical Director, Dan Sayers said of the 2018 Vantage GTE: “Designing and developing this new car has been an extremely satisfying process. We’ve collaborated closely with Aston Martin’s Gaydon headquarters to develop the road and race cars in parallel. Attention to detail has been a priority at every step of this process and we’ve made big improvements in each area of the car. We’ve spent every second optimising the design right until the build of our test car, which has paid dividends during our current testing schedule. This project has been one of the most intensive but also rewarding of my career so far”.

McLaren GT, the racing arm of McLaren Automotive, announced today the start of a project that will bring about a GT3 racing version of the highly praised 720S road car. Set for launch in 2019, the still far off McLaren 720S GT3 will phaseout the current 650-based racers.

The parallel development of racing cars based on every new production model is one of the reasons McLaren has been so successful in so short a time.since its re-establishment in 2010. Not only is motorsport a fertile ground for developing and testing new technologies in terms of electronics, aerodynamics and such, the racing background gives McLaren road cars a lot of street cred – or rather track cred – which is why their products are so coveted the world over. Now one would argue there is no need for a McLaren 720S GT3 seeing that the production version is doing so well. But you see, the 720S is just the first in this generation of Super Series models. There will a bunch more where that came from, each meaner and more serious than the last.

Previewed in these concept sketches, the McLaren 720S GT3 is at the very start of development right now. But the company promises to have the race car ready for customer teams before the start of 2019 season. The car looks pretty darn hot in these renderings, featuring a massive aero kit consisting of super aggressive front and rear spoilers and splitters and diffusers, wide arches, and carbon winglets to better channel the air around the car for the ultimate goal of creating lots of downforce. We have a sneaking suspicion that by the time McLaren gets around making the 720 GT3 tuners have made this package into a after market body kit for road-going models.

Things are looking for World Rally Championship (WRC) season 2018 judging by the cars set to compete in it. We saw the first shot of the new Polo WRC a few days ago, and now in a few days we will get to see this bad boy in action, the new Citroen C3 R5. It looks pretty good. Pretty, pretty, pretty good!

Set to replace last season’s champion, the D3 R5, the new Citroen C3 R5 has been under constant testing since September. The team has put the new rally car through a battery of tough evaluations on tarmac and gravel. The test drivers Stéphane Lefebvre, Craig Breen and Yoann Bonato have already racked up over 4,000km in testing in the C3, giving it a big thumbs up after every session. Now the car is all set forits first public appearance during the Rallye du Var, the final round of the French Championship, on 23-26 November.

Citroen C3 R5 will be one of the ‘zero’ cars at the event, meaning it has a number ‘0’ on its door which indicates it is not racing competitively. It would be a good laugh if the non-FIA homologous car actually win the rally. It would make this guy, who’s not yet left the womb, pretty worried:

The VW Polo R5 GTI is shaping up to be a serious WRC contender, already trash talking the competition with its big numbers and swollen arches. What’s more important, perhaps, than who wins the races is how these rally cars will affect the market of the road-going models they are based on. Looks-wise, we have to say we’d rather have the hot hatch fruit of the C3’s loins. But performance-wise, I don’t know, it’s hard to ignore how good that Polo GTI is.

We were all awestruck when Bentley unveiled their new-look Continental since it is one of the prettiest cars they have ever built. Now that beauty is spreading itself to the race track. Meet the new Bentley Continental GT3 race car, ready to take to the track in 2018.

Currently under development, the new Bentley Continental GT3 will be ready for sale to private teams and individuals from June 2018. The car is qualified to enter the Intercontinental GT Challenge and Bentley is planning to win with it many Blancpain GT Series Endurance Cup titles. To achieve that goal they are working with Bentley’s motorsport technical partner, M-Sport, to create a flawless racing machine. What you get out of all this is a magnificent thing to look at on the race track.

2018 Bentley Continental GT3 has the same body as the road car, but it’s equipped with a massive aerokit which adds a good dose of drama to the GT’s lustful body. The extra downforce produced by this kit complements the racing suspension and brakes to make the GT3, whose weight is lowered to 1,300 kg, a sharp and precise tool on the track. Meanwhile the 4.0-litre Bentley twin-turbo V8, with a totally redesigned dry sump system and all-new intake and exhaust systems, pumps out 550 horsepower according to the rules and regulations.

entley’s Director of Motorsport, Brian Gush comments: “After four years of success with our Continental GT3, we’re excited to reveal our second-generation car. The new car leaves no area or system untouched in the search for even better performance, and the early test results are promising. The new Continental GT road car has proved to be a great starting point for the development of a new racer, and the engineering development work is true to Bentley’s impeccable standards.”

The highly anticipated customer race car from Hyundai goes on sale as the Korean company confirms the pricing. The 2018 Hyundai i30 N TCR starts at €128,000, but teams placing their orders first will get a four grand discount. That makes the i30 N one of the most affordable racing cars ever offered for sale.

The early birds will also get their cars as early as December, so they will plenty of time to prepare for the 2018 season. There are other incentives as well, for customers buying multiple cars, with including spare parts packages of up to €28.000. Each Hyundai i30 N TCR comes race-ready out of the box, equipped with ABS, night lamps and an external refueling fitting. Another advantage of this car is Hyundai’s vast and reliable customer support and spare parts delivery, ensuring you are never out of action for long due to damage or mechanical failure.

Hyundai i30 N TCR has already proven it’s a serious competition car with a stellar performance at TCR events in Europe and China. Based on the road-going i30 N, the car features a 2.0 liter turbo engine equipped with racing-grade ECU and performance part, competition-spec suspension and brakes and interior, and the mandatory safety package including roll cage.

As if the new Polo GTI was not cool enough, Volkswagen is now giving it a motorsport career by sending it rallying. They just announced the 2018 VW Polo R5 GTI with which they will return to rallying next year. The handsome rally car will be available to professional teams and aspiring drivers wishing to compete in WRC (World Rally Championship).

The new Polo GTI road car became an instant sensation when it was unveiled thanks to is superb blend of style and performance. It reminded everybody of the magnificent first-gen Golf GTI, what with its perfect balance of power and lightness. The VW Polo R5 GTI is closely related to that road car and gets the same four-cylinder turbo engine, only here it’s boosted to 270 horsepower. The R5 also benefits from four-wheel drive, a sequential five-speed racing transmission and a comprehensive safety package.

This is excellent news for privateers. With the VW Polo R5 GTI they receive a complete package. All they need to do is put their own stickers on it and then they can go compete in national, regional and international championships. Customer racing is an important part of Volkswagen Motorsport activities. Besides rallying they also offer the Golf GTI TCR for track enthusiasts.

“With the Polo GTI R5 we are hoping to transfer our expertise from four WRC titles to customer racing successfully, and offer a first-class racing machine for countless rally championships from national series to the WRC,” said Volkswagen Motorsport Director Sven Smeets. “Before the first race outing next year, we will subject the Polo GTI R5 to rigorous testing to make sure it is prepared for the extremely varied track conditions around the world.”

As expected, Ferrari released an upgrade for the already pretty incredible FXX-K, the racing version of the LaFerrari. Revealed at Finali Mondiali track event, the new Ferrari FXX-K Evo comes with some upgrades over the previous version, chief among which an increase in the amount of downforce its aero kit generates.

Downforce is of utmost importance in a track car like this, since it determines how fast Ferrari FXX-K Evo can go around corners, which determines how fast it can be around any given race track. So the FXX-K Evo’s aerodynamics deliver downforce figures very close to those of the cars competing in the GT3 and GTE championships. Evo’s downforce coefficient has been improved by 23% on the previous version, which is the equivalent of a 75% increase on the road car from which it is derived. Downforce of 640 kg is generated at 200 km/h, and exceeds 830 kg at the car’s red-line speed.

It’s too bad, then, you can’t race the Ferrari FXX-K Evo in any real championship. The best you can hope for is the events Ferrari organizes for the lucky few who get to buy this car. All this technological brilliance, and all it’s good for is pampering the ego of a billionaire. The man will be enjoying the evolved aero, the lighter weight, and the new Formula 1-derived steering wheel with integrated gear-shifting paddles and KERS Manettino. Of course, there will be a handful of people who will try to make the Evo street legal and drive it on public roads. That’s a bit vulgar, but at least it gives the Evo some other purpose.

Ferrari FXX-K Evo will be produced in tiny numbers and only sold to Ferrari’s most special clients. Those who already have a regular FXX-K can order the Evo as a package and have their car upgraded.

Alpine revealed today the racing version of the new A110 which they had promised a while ago. Lightened and more focused, the 2018 Alpine 110 Cup is an affordable race car which you can use for Alpine Europa Cup, or for having enormous bouts of fun on track days.

Alpine 110 Cup Race Car is designed, developed and produced by Signatech, who will also sell the car for around €100,000 apop. With a weight of 1,050 kg and power output of 270 hp (18 more than the road car) mated to a six-speed sequential gearbox, the A110 Cup features racing suspension with 40mm lowered ride height compared to the standard car. Of course, the Öhlins spring-shock absorbers are compression- and rebound-adjustable. Boasting a roll cage and new sub-frames as well as Michelin slick and treaded are other highlights of the tiny racer.

Since Alpine 110 Cup will be ought predominately by gentleman racer and, well, rookies, there has been no compromise on safety features. The car comes with specific Sabelt bucket seat with built-in head restraints, six-point HANS-compatible harness, automatic fire extinguisher, dry battery, master switch, etc. There is also Brembo brakes with large discs ABS and traction control systems, which may be adjusted or disabled.The adjustable pedal box and steering column help adapt the driving position to suit all shapes and sizes of driver. You even get air con!

Bernard Ollivier, Alpine Deputy Managing Director: “The fact we have created the Alpine A110 Cup and a dedicated competition in which they will compete, the Alpine Europa Cup, is yet further evidence of our love of motor racing. We wanted the A110 Cup to be a genuine race car, a particularly refined machine equipped with high-end features geared towards performance. Alpine Europa Cup competitors will therefore be able to enjoy driving a very beautiful car, which will set new standards in terms of efficiency. The organisation of the competition will also meet Alpine’s demanding requirements, featuring rigour and professionalism on the track, but a fun and friendly atmosphere in the paddock. The Alpine Europa Cup will equally be used as a means of reaching out to our community of fans throughout Europe.”

Video games are such vital part of car manufacturers’ publicity efforts that they come up with new, updated versions of their virtual model, just so that gamers would remain interested in their brand. This is the new Peugeot L750 R Hybrid Vision Gran Turismo, launched in Gran Turismo PlayStation game as the hotted-up version of the L500 R Hybrid.

Now, this is a relatively easy way of staying ahead of the curve since it’snot like Peugeot actually had to spend any real effort updating the concept. They just got some new graphics and made up some impressive specs for the previous version. And voila, there you have it, the new Peugeot L750 R Hybrid Vision Gran Turismo. But if you are the kind of person that takes virtual stuff more seriously than real life, you are going to like what they have done here.

True to their environmental ambitions even in the realm of fantasy, Peugeot has made the L750 R Hybrid Vision Gran Turismo even more efficient than its predecessor. The hybrid system that powers the racing car consists of an internal-combustion engine and an electric motor. The petrol engine produces 580 horsepower and a top engine speed of 10,000 rpm. That is backed up by a 170-horsepower electric motor. With a total of 750 horsepower delivered to the rear wheels via a sequential 7-speed gearbox, the L750 R can accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 2.4 seconds.

Other highlights of the new Peugeot Gran Turismo racing concept include a weight of 825 kg, liquid-cooled lithium-ion battery, dual-circuit hydraulic braking system and four ventilated carbon discs, independent front and rear suspensions, and forged magnesium wheels. The new Peugeot may feel exactly like every other car you have driven in the game – which is to say, the feel of pushing buttons on a joystick – but we have to say it does look quite cool. It probably won’t affect the design of any future production model, but hey.

With a third place in Barcelona, the Lamborghini Huracán GT3 of Grasser Racing wins the title of the esteemed GT competition. Factory drivers Mirko Bortolotti, Christian Engelhart and Andrea Caldarelli get the drivers’ title for the Lamborghini Squadra Corse.

Barcelona – Sant’Agata Bolognese, last round of the season, the Lamborghini Huracán GT3 of the Austrian group Grasser Racing has been crowned 2017 champion of the Blancpain GT Series, the most lofty and hard-battled GT title on the planet.

A third-place was sufficient for the factory drivers of Lamborghini Squadra Corse, Mirko Bortolotti, Christian Engelhart and Andrea Caldarelli, to secure the 2017 title, following a three-hour race always in the top positions. 50 cars started the race, so the final performance of these pilots is beyond impressive once again.

The Barcelona race was the crowning of a season that saw the Lamborghini Huracán GT3 #63 of Grasser Racing battling for the best positions amid each of the ten rounds of the Blancpain GT Series, both in the Sprint Cup races (with Bortolotti and Engelhart), and in the Endurance Cup ones (with Andrea Caldarelli and the already said drivers).

The season has been set apart by numerous astounding outcomes: a triumph at Monza and Silverstone in the Endurance Cup, a twofold win at Brands Hatch in the Sprint Cup in addition to a long arrangement of point wraps up. The consistency of each performance, the unwavering quality of the Huracán GT3, the astounding activity done by Grasser Racing and the speed of the Lamborghini drivers were unequivocal for winning such a hard-battled title as the Blancpain GT Series, in which tenths of seconds are fight for fearlessly.

Altogether there are four titles won for Lamborghini in the Blancpain GT Series title: the Austrian group wins the Overall and Endurance Cup Team titles. Mirko Bortolotti and Christian Engelhart win the Overall and Endurance Cup Driver’s title, this last one together with Andrea Caldarelli.

This past weekend, at the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Apache Warrior 400 at Dover International Speedway, the world’s most famous female racing driver took the wheel of a special race car for a special cause. Danica Patrick‘s No.10 Ford Warriors in Pink Fusion race car boasted a pink delivery designed for Breast Cancer Awareness month.

Fighting breast cancer is a cause close to Danica’s heart, not just because she’s a woman, but also because she has personal experience supporting friends who have dealt with the disease, as well as her recognition that warriors battling breast cancer deserve More Good Days – an initiative made possible through Ford Warriors in Pink. What’s more, Danica’s image as a strong, powerful woman – she’s the most successful female driver in the history of racing – is an inspiration for other ladies currently engaged in a fight for their lives with the terrible ailment.

Danica’s Ford Warriors in Pink Fusion will take to the track once again on October 8 for the Bank of America 500 at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

“The Ford Warriors in Pink race car really looks great,” said Patrick, one of the most successful women in the history of motorsports now driving for Stewart-Haas Racing. “Cancer impacts all of us. I bet there are very few people out there who don’t know someone impacted by breast cancer. My friend had a double mastectomy as a preemptive strike because she actually tested positive for the breast cancer gene. She went through everything and hopefully avoided it, but it hit close to home. If we all work together, we can help make a difference.Whether it’s starting a conversation or inspiring donations, every little bit helps. That’s why I’m proud to drive the Warriors in Pink Fusion to help raise awareness for the cause.”

In a fairly extravagant ceremony in Neuburg last night Audi reveled their new Formula E contender. Backed by ABT and with full support of the company, the Audi e-tron FE04 is set to take the brand into the future of motorsport and, hopefully, repeat the success they had in Le Mans only a few years ago.

The development of Audi e-tron FE04 and the subsequent technical work that is required to keep it competitive will in the long run benefit Audi’s road-going electric cars as well. After all, motorsport has always been the laboratory in which new technologies were put to rigorous test before making their way to production cars. Formula E is a bit more restricted than regular motorsport, that’s true, but teams can still do developmental work on the motor, transmission, parts of the suspension and the respective software. So there is a lot room for R&D here.

Dressed in a special livery featuring white, metallic green and black, Audi e-tron FE04 Formula E racer will be driven by veteran Luca Di Grassi and youngster Daniel Abt. They are a true “dynamic duo,” having scored 24 podiums, six victories and four pole positions in the 33 races held to date. And they have as their boss and mentor no other than the great Scott, Allan McNish, whose glorious resume features stints in Formula 1 and Le Mans. The Audi e-tron FE04 will make its racing debut at the Formula E season opener in Hong Kong on December 2, 2017.

“After nearly 40 years of being successfully active in motorsport on the highest level, Audi now becomes the first German automobile manufacturer to compete in Formula E in order to test and advance the development of new technologies for production,” says Peter Mertens, Member of the Board of Management, Technical Development, AUDI AG. “Following quattro, TFSI, TDI, hybrid drive and many other innovations, our first single-seater race car is a portent of our product offensive in the field of electric mobility that we are ringing in with the Audi e-tron in 2018.” At the IAA, Audi announced having more than 20 electrified models in its range even before 2025 including Plug-in-hybrids and fully electric cars.

The Squadra Corse department of Automobili Lamborghini revealed today a brand-new race car. Well, it’s not new as such, but rather an improved version of an existing model. It’s the Lamborghini Huracan Super Trofeo EVO and it brings with it new and exciting changes.

One major change is that the Super Trofeo series now has a new title sponsor. It’s another watch maker, Roger Dubuis, whose logo and products is going to dominate the one-make racing series. Speaking of the series, the new Lamborghini Huracan Super Trofeo EVO is no longer limited to this exclusive field of motorsport and can compete in international Gran Turismo championships in the GT Cup category, and Endurance races as well.

On top of all this, Lamborghini Huracan Super Trofeo EVO is an altogether more exciting racer than its predecessor. The car boasts entirely redesigned aerodynamics, new devices to improve safety, and several improvements to its mechanics and electronics. Power comes from a 5.2 liter, 620 hp naturally aspirated V10 engine, generating 3% more torque at maximum speed (280 km/h limited electronically). The designers drew inspiration from LMP1 cars to improve the aero and cooling of the EVO. They also introduced a roof hatch safety system from the GT3 model. Other notable highlights of Lamborghini Huracan Super Trofeo EVO include a new exhaust system with catalytic converters, rear wheel drive and X-Track six-gear sequential shift, plus ABS by Bosch Motorsport and Traction Control by Motec, both with ten-position settings adjusted via controls on the steering wheel.

The Huracan Super Trofeo EVO will make its track debut in the spring of 2018. Prices start at 235,000 Euros (plus tax) in Europe and Asia, and 295,000 USD in America.

“Lamborghini Squadra Corse is continuing its plan to grow and consolidate its position as a trend setter on the competition scene. We are proud to work with a prestigious brand such as Roger Dubuis; one which shares our values of ongoing innovation and product uniqueness, while always respecting our heritage and with the purpose of thrilling and amazing our customers and all those who love the brand around the world,” said Stefano Domenicali, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Automobili Lamborghini.

It’s McLaren Automotive turn’s to present the fans of Gran Turismo video game with a super sick virtual car. This is what they have come up with, the McLaren Ultimate Vision GT, available in Grant Turismo Sport on PlayStation 4 from October.

Of course, there is more to the McLaren Ultimate Vision GT than enabling a bunch kids to have a really good time playing the game. Designers and engineers have put some real effort into making the Vision GT, as they will explain to you in the video below. The car represents McLaren’s way of thinking when it comes to creating the ultimate track car. Who knows, maybe some day in the future they actually come up with something like this for the real world. Oh, wait. They’ve already done that. It’s called the P1 GTR!

The specs they have come up with for the McLaren Ultimate Vision GT are truly amazing, even for a virtual car. The hyper track machine has a virtual kerb weight of just 1,000 kg thanks largely to the extensive use of digital carbon fiber. It also boasts Integrated Active Aero, which works by opening tiny aperture covers around air inlets on key surfaces during cornering to create drag and generate downforce. Power comes from a virtual twin-turbo, 4.0-litre McLaren V8 engine drives the rear wheels, putting out a mind-boggling 1,150 PS and 1,275 NM of torque.

“We wanted to break new ground and to innovate and the McLaren Ultimate Vision Gran Turismo does exactly that. It puts the driver absolutely at the centre of the action, delivering a sensory overload with incredible sound and awe-inspiring acceleration. From the game player’s point of view, the driving experience in this car will be like nothing else: the amazing glass cockpit and the motorcycle-like driving position – with your head far forward, almost right above the front axle – combine to allow you to see exactly where the apex of the corner is so you can shave vital milliseconds off each lap.More than anything though, the McLaren Ultimate Vision Gran Turismo is a stunning looking car. The design form communicates exactly what the car’s mission is and what its intentions are: it’s the ultimate expression of the McLaren design pillars and principles we have already established, futured into the 2030s.”Rob Melville, Design Director, McLaren Automotive

It’s McLaren Automotive turn’s to present the fans of Gran Turismo video game with a super sick virtual car. This is what they have come up with, the McLaren Ultimate Vision GT, available in Grant Turismo Sport on PlayStation 4 from October.

Of course, there is more to the McLaren Ultimate Vision GT than enabling a bunch kids to have a really good time playing the game. Designers and engineers have put some real effort into making the Vision GT, as they will explain to you in the video below. The car represents McLaren’s way of thinking when it comes to creating the ultimate track car. Who knows, maybe some day in the future they actually come up with something like this for the real world. Oh, wait. They’ve already done that. It’s called the P1 GTR!

The specs they have come up with for the McLaren Ultimate Vision GT are truly amazing, even for a virtual car. The hyper track machine has a virtual kerb weight of just 1,000 kg thanks largely to the extensive use of digital carbon fiber. It also boasts Integrated Active Aero, which works by opening tiny aperture covers around air inlets on key surfaces during cornering to create drag and generate downforce. Power comes from a virtual twin-turbo, 4.0-litre McLaren V8 engine drives the rear wheels, putting out a mind-boggling 1,150 PS and 1,275 NM of torque.

“We wanted to break new ground and to innovate and the McLaren Ultimate Vision Gran Turismo does exactly that. It puts the driver absolutely at the centre of the action, delivering a sensory overload with incredible sound and awe-inspiring acceleration. From the game player’s point of view, the driving experience in this car will be like nothing else: the amazing glass cockpit and the motorcycle-like driving position – with your head far forward, almost right above the front axle – combine to allow you to see exactly where the apex of the corner is so you can shave vital milliseconds off each lap.More than anything though, the McLaren Ultimate Vision Gran Turismo is a stunning looking car. The design form communicates exactly what the car’s mission is and what its intentions are: it’s the ultimate expression of the McLaren design pillars and principles we have already established, futured into the 2030s.”Rob Melville, Design Director, McLaren Automotive

Prior to its public debut at The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering, the new Acura ARX-05 DPi race car stops by the internet to show off its cool new looks. The machine is a Daytona Prototype International (DPi) to be fielded by Team Penske in the 2018 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship.

Acura ARX-05 DPi also marks the return of the brand to endurance prototype racing, a field they have been active in on and off since 1991. The new car is built on the proven ORECA 07 chassis but gets a completely new look that reflects the design philosophy of Acura with highlights such as Jewel Eye headlights. It even gets a production-based engine, the race-proven AR35TT twin-turbocharged engine, based on the production 3.5-liter V-6 that powers the Acura MDX, RDX, TLX and RLX models.

“Right from the start, Acura has raced – and done so successfully,” said Art St. Cyr, President of HPD and Acura Motorsports. “We’ve won with the Acura Integra Type R, the RSX, the first-generation NSX and with the Le Mans prototypes. Most recently, we’ve won with the new Acura NSX GT3. The ARX-05 is our fifth-generation prototype, and we expect great things from our partnership with Team Penske.”

It would have been a shame if a car as potent and as capable as the 2018 Camaro ZL1 didn’t have some sort of motorsport career. But that’s a problem you no longer have to worry about because Chevy has just announced the ZL1 NASCAR Cup Race Car, set to make its competition debut next February during Daytona Speedweeks.

Joining the Camaro SS, which has been Chevrolet’s entry in the NASCAR XFINITY Series since 2013, to bolster Chevrolet’s presence in this field of racing the 2018 Camaro ZL1 NASCAR Cup has been carefully engineered to ensure success. The car benefits from a 90-degree V8 motor which is closely related to 650 horsepower unit in the production model, and it has been fine-tuned with computational fluid dynamics analysis and reduced-scale and full-scale wind-tunnel testing to optimize aerodynamic performance.

“Chevrolet, Camaro and ZL1 are all synonymous with winning, both on and off the track,” said Mark Reuss, executive vice president of GM Global Product Development, who was joined by seven-time Cup champion Jimmie Johnson — driver of the #48 Lowe’s Chevrolet for Hendrick Motorsports — to reveal the car. “We are thrilled to run Camaro in NASCAR next year, with the time-honored and track-tested ZL1 badge, and we’re just as excited for our drivers, teams, fans and customers.”